How To Conquer The Library

I’m a mild library addict. And by “mild” I mean, I journey there every week and basically eat ALL THE BOOKS and have no regrets. But why merely visit a library when you can conquer it?!? So I did. With help from my two loyal minions.

And because I’m so magnanimous, I’m writing this to help you know how to conquer your own local library. You’re welcome. My rulership is wonderful, I know.

STEP 1: ENSURE YOU BRING BACK UP BEFORE EMBARKING ON THIS DANGEROUS CONQUERING JOURNEY

Not that I’m doubting you, per se, but it’s handy to have minions to do your bidding. Carry the bags. (Please tell me you brought bags for the books.) Bring snacks. Provide entertainment. Make handy diversions if other humans grow suspicious of you.

I bring along my niece and nephew, both of which I affectionally call Frank because it DRIVES THEM CRAZY. (I am the best kind of aunt in the universe.) They actually have separate names, but pfft….all you need is Frank.

STEP 2: PROCEED TO WHIP ABOUT THE LIBRARY WITH A DOMINATING STANCE AND AN EQUALLY DOMINATING GLARE.

I swear the look and the walk are 9 tenths of the process. You don’t want anyone mistaking your rule. I used to be all abut sneaking into libraries. But my preschooling companions assure me that tearing in screeching, “LET’S GET SOME BOOKS AND MOVIES, CAIT” is a much better process.

The term “library voice” is ridiculous. Forget it.

STEP 3: READ ALL THE BOOKS. ALL OF THEM. BECAUSE YOU ARE CONQUERING THEM.

What’s the point of conquering something if you don’t know what you’re conquering, hmm? So we like to read everything on the shelves.

One of the Franks always gasps whenever she picks out a book. She is a Book Gasper. “CAAAAAIT!” she says in a not-quiet-library-voice-at-all. “LOOK THIS ONE IS MY FAVOURITE.” She’ll then present me with a book neither of us has seen before. Ever. But this is what I like about her. The library is full of potential favourite books. She is a book opportunist.

The larger Frank is 5 and can read super well. It’s very handy, so between him and I, we shall read ALL THE BOOKS and be true conquerors.

STEP 4: MAKE SURE YOU UTILISE ALL THE THINGS THE LIBRARY OFFERS, SINCE YOU ARE ITS TRUE CONQUEROR AND LORD.

We usually take over the local preschoolers “Story Time” held downstairs. And by “takeover” I mean huddle in the back and REFUSE to do the song and REFUSE to go up the front to listen to the stories and REFUSE to make contact with the mere human residents. Totally fair. We conquerors are a class of our own.

We do like the crafts. Glitter and streamers and sparkles.

Frank is addicted to sparkles.

Me: What’s your favourite colour?Frank: Glitter.

I KNOW IT’S HARD TO TELL WHICH PILE BELONGS TO THE FRANKS AND WHICH IS MINE.

STEP 6: MAKE PILES OF BOOKS AND EAT THEM AT YOUR LEISURE.

Many piles. Many books. Frank is terrified we’ll leave the library without enough books so she dashes about collecting a bazillion Spots, Charlie and Lola, and Peppa Pig.

If you have never heard of either of those famous childhood books — YOU ARE GLORIOUSLY, BLISSFULLY IGNORANT. YOU’RE MISSING NOTHING. Also I refer to Peppa Pig as “animated Bacon” and I’m not even sorry.

I have a personal “Library Rule” which is borrowing only 2 books at once so I don’t get overwhelmed and neglect ARCs. This is a stupid rule. I ignore it 66% of the time.

STEP 7: BRING SNACKS.

This is so endlessly important because conquering cannot be done on an empty stomach! And um, there’s possibly a “no food” rule at the library, but I’ve never seen the sign specifically. And even if I did…we’re conquering here. Gee. We make the rules.

STEP 8: MAKE SURE YOU CONQUER A LIBRARY WITH NICE DISPLAYS SO YOUR LORDSHIP EYES CAN GAZE UPON THEM AND BE PLEASED.

We did well choosing our library in this regard. It has some very apt decorations on the back walls. Of which I think are made out of dictionaries? Who needs dictionaries anyway? Not us.

STEP 9: WE ALSO HIGHLY SUGGEST YOU CHECK THE BOOK SELECTION AND MAKE SURE IT’S GRAND BEFORE DECIDING TO DOMINATE THIS LIBRARY.

I, um, wasn’t excellent at this. But we liked the arty displays (and it’s the best library around, so there’s that too) so we conquer what libraries we can. At least there’s a great inter-library-loan system, so we have access to a small herd of other local libraries. Because there are two shelves of Young Adult books. TWO SHELVES. It’s a little pitiful.

But you can make the best of this situation by:

asking the library to buy more books

using puppy dog eyes when they ignore you

well, thinking about puppy dog eyes because you actually do all requests online, but WHATEVER

then reading all the ones available. all of them. do it.

STEP 10: PET ALL THE BOOKS THAT YOU’VE READ BECAUSE YOU HAVE A CONNECTION WITH THEM.

I totally check the shelves for Maggie Stiefvater and John Green books and feel vaguely pleased when they’re there…but also vaguely pleased when they’re not. That means someone else has good taste.

STEP 11: SNEAK AWAY FOR 3.2 SECONDS AND SNABBLE BOOKS FOR YOURSELF.

This is crucial to conquering because you must present yourself as a mystical, magical being who is there one moment and — BOOM — gone the next. Keeps all the mortals wary and cowering.

Except, like I said, there are two shelves of YA books so it’s a bit hard to “lose yourself among the books”. The minions actually always follow me as a bodyguard while loudly pronouncing, “OH CAIT IS GETTING SOME SCARY BOOKS NOW.”

Dangit, Frank, they’re not always scary. Just most of the time.

Fine. They’re always scary. How do they know me so well?! Sheesh.

STEP 12: ENSURE MINION ARMY IS AT LEAST WEARING SUITABLE UNIFORMS, OKAY? THIS IS IMPORTANT.

Can’t have them wandering around without proper attire now, can we? The most dangerous of the Franks is also Batman. The nerdy, literate Frank wears a shirt to assure the populace that my adorable young self is NOT their parent. As I mentioned back in 2014, people keep assuming I’m their parent! I AM NOT. I am a conquer! I am no parent! I’m like 5’1 and have a young face!

Speaking of faces…this is the result when I say “Let me take a picture of your 100% truthful shirt. SMILE FOR ME, FRANK.”

I mean…what even, Frank. What. E.V.E.N.

Although it is kind of cute. And his shirt is A+…because yes I am the cooler aunt.

This is particularly helpful if you are not rich. All you need is a library card and you’re unstoppable. Although the downside is accidentally meeting with seriously gross books.

Once I brought home a book that had something really STICKY on the front cover. What was it??? Dried chocolate? Dragon spit? BLOOD???? All I know is that is was insanely hard to hold said book without touching the grossness. I’m shuddering just thinking about it. I’ve also brought home books that literally fell apart as I tried to turn pages. And I’m a really careful book reader!

Plus my library is addicted to covering books in shiny plastic. This is horrendous for book photography. It reflects awfully and tries my patience.

Clearly my rule over my library isn’t perfect yet, since they don’t burn with fire the other human-library-goers who wreck books. I’ll fix that soon.

STEP 15: WHILE MINIONS ARE OPTIONAL…YOU REALLY SHOULD GET SOME LIKE I SUGGESTED IN STEP #1.

They’re handy! You can steal their snacks!(I’m kidding, I’d be murdered if I tried to steal their precious food.) They provide many hysterical conversations to listen to.

Such as:

He-Frank: I’m Grandma and Poppa’s grandson.Me: That is true.She-Frank: I’m not the grand-sun. I’m the star!Me: That is also true.

are you a library-conquerer?! how often do you library?? have you ever met with a really gross and mistreated library book?! TELL ALL TO ME IN THE COMMENTS!!

Comments

I try to library at least once a week. But since I do not have a car nor a library within walking distance (mostly), my librarying tends to be a bit less often then I’d like because I have to get a parental figure to drive me.

And, gosh, sticky and mistreated library books are the worst. And you can always tell them at all the damage was done by ONE PERSON because all the stains are the same color or the cover and pages are bent in exactly the same way. It makes me bad.

And I might steal the whole Frank thing from you. I refer to my sibling cousins as “brother of mine,” “male cousin of mine” “female cousin of mine”, and “toddler cousin of mine.”

They have all taken sarcastically to calling me “Yah-Yah” because that’s how toddler cousin of mine pronounces Aine. Serves me right, I guess.

Agh, I understand that pain. *nods* It was a glorious day when I could use my hard-earned license to finally drive myself to the library. It was my first stop, I believe. :’)
AGH YEAH I HATE DAMAGE LIKE THAT. Like chocolately finger prints?!? (Which is super incriminating. *hmphs*) Why couldn’t they just wash their hands, couldn’t they SEE what they were doing?! GAh.
But YES. Streamlining all your relatives names is an EXCELLENT idea. It also helps when you can’t even remember their names. Like I have 6 nephews/nieces now. How can I be expected to remember 6 names and yell the appropriate one when needed? MUCH easier to squall Frank.

I’m a terrible library addict. Like I literally go there every couple of days because I just can’t stop myself and I have a serious problem. Not only that, but I’ve joined up with three seperate library systems and I think I probably need to join a library support group or something. And I don’t just borrow a couple of books either. I will literally be hauling massive stacks of books out of the library doors, haha. (it’s great for an arm workout, though. Who needs the gym when I can just borrow books?)

PfFFT HOW CAN IT BE A PROBLEM, KARA. You and I clearly have our library-addiction-priorities in order. *nods sagely* Until, there’s like more books than floor space, but PFFT who needs floor space when one can just read all day, right?! Bookworm gym FTW also.

This whole post is freaking adorable! “The library is full of potential favourite books. She is a book opportunist.” I love that lol. And the pictures of your Franks are so cute. Also the fact that you call them both Frank.

I don’t do the library thing because of the gross books and because it takes too much energy, BUT I have recently discovered you can borrow ebooks and whatnot from the library and have started doing that 🙂 I suppose I can always just announce loudly to my empty room that I’m there to conquer, and I definitely bring snacks. And I could probably grab a stray cat from downstairs to be my minion. So I’m like halfway there.

Such a great post, I love all of these pictures, and THAT shirt DEFINITELY IS A+, I love it. I don’t have any nephew or nieces to buy that to, but when that happens, I WILL GET THAT SHIRT.
Sadly, I’m not a library-conqueror, because I’m living in France and in my library, all the books are in French, obviously, and since I read 99.9% of my books in English, well… that’s a no match for me, sadly. I LOVE going to the library though, just to see ALL the books. Bookshops, too, oh I could spend HOURS in bookshops. Since they don’t have many books in English in my library, well I’m going to specialized bookshops, and forever goes out of there with at least 4 books in my hands. I can’t stop.

ALL my nieces/nephews should wear that shirt, tbh. SHOW THE WORLD THE TRUTH. *nods* I love bookshops too!! But the make me sad because I want to just buy everything, hehe, and read everything and smell everything…because bookshops smell sO GOOD.

You’re so lucky that you can issue so many books at a time. I only issue books from the school library and I can only issue one at a time 😢 I have the minion problem sorted. I choose so many books and thrust them in someone’s arms (usually some unfortunate classmate) 😁
Gross books? Woah. I never had that problem, but once I took a book off a shelf to read and found that it was scribbled inside. I hate that plastic covering on the books! Its so sticky!
Your pictures are awesome! I love both the Franks, they are so adorable!

AHHHHH ONE AT A TIME!??! That would definitely drive me nuts. *pats shoulder* *gives you consolatory cake*
Agh the scribbles-on-the-inside is sad too. I’ve borrowed children’s books for the Franks that have had pages GLUED together. 0_0 The things people do to library books…gah.

I love everything about this post, Cait. Your minions are all kinds of adorable.

My local library has a pitiful YA section, one in another town has a much better selection but it’s about a 20 minute drift away which is quite a faff to drive there, and pay for parking every weekend so I’ve not been since the start of the year. However, the city my university is in has a library so I plan on scoping that out with a view to conquer should the YA section be acceptable. (And by that I mean it has more than John Green or Suzanne Collins. Hopefully some Maggie Stiefvater!)

Aw, thank you, Rosie. THEY ARE SOOOO CUTE. :’) And large. They really need to stop growing up because omg it makes me feel mildly old.

AGH, I hate it when libraries have horrid sections. Our is about 15mins away and it’s the best library I’ve ever lived near, despite only having 2 shelves of YA books. 😂 BUT STILL. I hope your uni library is more promising!! *crosses fingers that it has Stiefvater so you can devour it all*

This was a really fun post to read, with added-on cuteness from the Franks. Ha, know that movie Christmas With the Kranks? You have Christmas with the Franks.

…

I’ll stop now.

I’m actually sad that our libraries don’t do “grand” when it comes to English books. You should definitely visit a Belgian library if you like classics, classics, and maybe for a bit of variety some classics. IT DRIVES ME NUTS.

I have heard of that movie, but not seen it yet!! 😂 They get so mad at me for calling them Frank but I LITERALLY DO ALL THE TIME. No regrets. I’m a wonderful yet horrible aunt, and therefore balance the world.

I love this post! I use the library a surprising amount – though I think the librarians hate me. (What do you mean I have to be over 18 to borrow from the adult section?)

Ja. I hate sticky books, with pages falling out and bits between the pages. My library also lends eBooks, so I tend to just do that. It also means I don’t have to leave the house. Which is a good thing.

Seriously?!?! They had an AGE LIMIT?!? That seems crazy! 😂 My library does the ebook thing too, except, I can’t figure out how to read them on my iPod (granted it’s an old ipod so it’s probable I can’t get the right app or anything) and I hate reading on my computer SO YEAH. But their audiobook online section is a+ :’)

Your minions are absolutely adorable. 😀
Also: your library sounds like my old one- also known as marvelous. I’m pretty sure I used to live within five minutes of one of the best libraries in the county (note that I said one of the best . . . there were two that were probably at least on par with it, if only because they both had an entire ROOM for YA books, whereas the one near my house had two-and-a-half bookshelves. But it was literally five minutes away, and the shelves were large shelves, and it’s a gorgeous library, and like yours, it has a fabulous inter-library loan system.)
My current library is tiny and slightly less awesome than my old one . . . but it does have an enormous number of connected libraries, so I just request all the books I want and check the one YA shelf (and the adult sci-fi/fantasy half-shelf) whenever I go in to pick up my holds. There’s one librarian who’s always happy to see me because I got terribly excited over books in her presence a few times. 😀 So it’s still nice. And it’s still only about five-ten minutes from my house.

Yep. It’s pretty amazing. (Though it’s less so when you don’t know half the authors and they don’t have the authors you do want . . . but still, amazing.) One of them, though, the whole library is enormous. It’s wonderful.

I don’t go to the library here. They’re stupid. I asked them several times to get more english YA books but they always look at me like “WHUT are you even asking? English books? PSSHTT” Idiots. They cannot see greatness if it bit them in the nose.

This is adorable. Your little Frank minions are so cute! I totally wish I had little minions to take with me to the library. I have contemplated stuffing the cat in my book bag, but I don’t think she’d stay there the entire time and then I would have to chase her about the library. That would be some seriously hard work.
I get what you said about not having much choice in your library. We have exactly one library in town and over 100 miles to the next closest. Yep, life in the rural western United States (Montana) can be pretty tricky sometimes.
I am kind of jealous that your get to submit purchase requests online. I have to fill out little slips of yellow paper for each individual book. This means that I receive some very odd looks when I turn in a stack of them.
Thank you for sharing your tips, oh benevolent ruler. You are greatly appreciated. 🙂

Taking the cat SOUNDS nice in theory though. :’) Very picturesque…until the chasing-it-around-the-library part.😂 AHEM. Buuuut, YES. I can totally imagine how awkward it’d be to do it in person. I would probably be too shy to even request any!!

This is hysterical! I really want to go eat the library now (minus the minions, because children terrify me), except I’m trying very hard not to buy or borrow any new books so that I can make some actual progress on my TBR shelf. This is very difficult, as you may imagine.

Aww, kids aren’t so terrifying. UNLESS THEY START SCREAMING AND YOU CAN’T MAKE THEM STOP. *sweats* But I shove food in their mouth and that seems to work. #LegendAunt Ahem. I should really not be librarying when my house is full of unread books but I CAN’T. HALP ME, SERENA.

I do this all the time! (Sans minions, I seem to have left them on the other side of the world . . . #AustralianStruggles). I also hate the silly library plastic, it’s almost worse than damaged books themselves. I always make sure my parents know when I borrow a library book so next time they say “You don’t need to buy that, you’ve already got hundreds of books”, I can justly reply with, “Well I *borrowed* two books last week so technically I deserve a reward for not *buying* those two books”.

Ah losing minions all over the world is a bit unfortunate. *lends you a minion dragon to make up for it* BUT GAH. YES. the plastic killlls book photography, but I guess it’s better to protect the book?! And at least the dustjackets don’t fall off while you’re reading, right?!

omg. I LOVE your logic. I want to steal that logic and use that line on my parents. 😂

I go to the library on Thursdays, too! (Sometimes when books are gross, I clean or fix them. I just ordered a book from a nearby library because my library didn’t have it and it’s in shambles. I may have to bust out the tape to read it. XD )

Animated bacon is a perfect way to describe Peppa Pig! Ugh. I would much rather read her books than watch the show with my daughter! What is the appeal?

My daughter dominates the library in about 10 seconds. She runs in, grabs all the books and is ready to get out of there. She loves it, but she is just the fastest book grabber!! If I let her, she would spend hours in the pillow pit playing with all the hand puppets though.

AGh, I HAVE NO IDEA. They’re obsessed with Peppa Pig though. Whyyyyy. She’s so annoying and I hate how they treat the daddy pig. But seriously, the small Frank walks into my room and says “Can I watch Peppa Pig, Cait? Cait? cAIIIIIIT.” -_-

Haha, aw, but I understand fast book grabbing too. 😉 My niece is just a book-grabber at the moment. I spend a lot of time sneaking some back because I CAN’t EVEN CARRY AS MANY BOOKS AS SHE WANTS TO BORROW. *collapses*

I KNOW! They are so mean to him! Like the episode with the tree house and they tell him there’s no room for him because he’s too fat! Seriously? I get super annoyed with them falling down every time they laugh. The Rabbit family don’t fall down when they laugh. Are they more dignified or what?

And yeah, I let Izzie just grab books and then we get home to read, and I realize we’ve read half of them already! I can’t handle that. There are so many books to read….who has time to read them all over again? Luckily, she only grabs about 8, so I can’t carry that much. Maybe the library needs to sponsor a weight lifting program for carrying books?

OH GOODNESS YOUR MINIONS ARE PRECIOUS. But they’re so BIG. They’re supposed to be tiny babies!!!! Also calling them both ‘Frank’ is hilarious. You are the best aunt XD

These steps to conquering are awesome XD But seriously, when I clicked on the email link to this post and read the title, I just casually said, out loud, “Bring a fork and knife”.

I thought you should know that.

AND I DO BRING SNACKS TO MY LIBRARY. because I bring snacks everywhere cuz FOOD. AND A BAG. Cuz my purse is a backpack because I carry an emergency kit everywhere. (Aka: notebook, yellow legal pad, crayons, coloring books. i’m not even kidding, i carry a coloring book everywhere.) So I have plenty of room to stow my books XD

I KNOOOOOW RIGHT?!?! HOW DID tHEY GROW SO TALL. Pretty soon they’ll be giving me piggy-backs in, honest. Gah. And I legit call them both Frank. 😉 It drives my nephew NUTS because he honestly thinks I don’t know his name.😂 I’m so mean to them. Save me Lisa. 😂😂

I LIKE KNOWING THAT. That is an excellent step and should really be on this list. *adds knife and fork to library bag*

you are the terriblest, best aunt ever XD BUT TRUTHFULLY I PROBABLY WON’T BE MUCH BETTER. Except my niece lives on the OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTRY from me which is sad so I can’t pamper and spoil her every single day.

YES. I shall agree with this post forever. This is perfect. BUT I HAVE NO LIBRARIES HERE. Because I live in Africa. But I’m American-born and I shall do NOTHING BUT READ when we go to America in 2017. But luckily, Amazon has this wonderful thing called “Kindle Unlimited” and I can borrow books from them. It is slightly glorious. ALSO , there are online libraries! (which I need to get an account for). I shall try and survive though. Cake helps me very much. And friends bringing me books.

Oh…. the stories I could tell. I have a Masters in Library Science and have worked at several different libraries. I was even a Young Adult librarian for a short time. I’ll tell you now, it is DEPLORABLE how few YA books most libraries carry. I knew some fantastical YA librarians that worked their rears off to provide an awesome collection with VERY LITTLE budget and not a lot of time (YA librarians wear so many hats.) but it was hard hard work.

In the USA many libraries don’t even have a separate librarian for the Young Adults (not sure how it is elsewhere), so someone else handles book ordering, which sometimes leads to the YA section being neglected or filled with the wrong types of books. I’ve been to so many libraries with only a few shelves of YA and I just want to cry BUCKETS of tears over it.

Small YA budgets are often the result of lack of circulation. Lack of circulation is due to the lack of teens visiting the library (for so many devastating reasons), younger readers being told YA is “too advanced” for them, and also because many adults are too scardy cat to be caught browsing for themselves in the YA section. It’s great that you’re indoctrinating (I mean, encouraging) your young minions to be Library obsessed. Maybe they’ll continue to be as they get older!

OMGGG YOU ARE LIKE THE LIBRARY QUEEN. *bows quietly to you* I didn’t even know there was such a position as a YA librarian?! That is awesome. I dare say tiny Australia libraries are oblivious of that. XD I still spend half my time trying to convince them YA books ARE YA and not adult. They currently have shelved the new illustrated Harry Potter book in adult. *facepalm*

My library also seems to collect sequels?? Is that common? GAh. It drives me crazy. Like I’m more likely to go out and buy a sequel if I liked the first book, but I don’t like buying books I’m not sure I’ll like. Hence: library. SO THEY NEED TO STOCK THEM ERMAGERD.

I hope the Franks do stay avid readres. :’) And tbh, I never see anyone, but myself, in the YA section, so I see the truth in all you’ve said. It is sad. D:

Well, aren’t they the cutests? I really wish I had people around me who would enjoy a trip to the library, but it’s all me, myself and I (and I prefer to go and empty the bookstores :p) I used to go the library very often when I was younger. It was my favorite trip to make, together with my mother and sister!

Yesssss…I understand!! Going to the library with others is totally more fun *nods* Although I and the Franks are the only ones in our family who library consistently. THE OTHERS ARE CLEARLY MISSING OUT.

Also, the point about a good book selection is very true…sadly my library only has one shelf of YA. It’s a long and tall shelf, that takes up an entire wall, but it is still kind of pathetic. (The one downtown has, like, eight shelves. I’m so jealous.)

La familia and I used to go to the library every Tuesday…but alas, then a certain little sister happened, and she made libraries her mortal enemy and generally caused a scene, so that kind of petered off a bit. (*cough we may or may not have been asked to keep the small child calm or not bring her back anymore until she learned to behave cough*) Also for a while my mom was rather busy with other things and couldn’t exactly understand WHY I needed to go to the library when we already have 1,000+ books in the house, some of which I haven’t read. (Oopsie…good point, Mom.) SO YEAH. But when I was 13-14 I biked to the library sometimes? It’s about 2.75 miles from here which is kind of an exhausting distance in the blazing heat of summer, but I GOT DESPERATE OKAY. And then I got a Kindle this year and it’s so nice because it means I don’t have to wait for the library as often. I still get in moods where I want to hold a real book though, or certain books that I feel must be read in paper version. So for that I basically talk my mom into going with me by saying “I’ll drive!” since she’s always telling me I need to drive more. xP BOOK BRIBERY, OKAY. I HAVE NO SHAME.

THEY ARE ADORABLE. And they grew too. GAH. Soon they’ll be taller than me and then WHAT’LL I DO. *collapses in a heap of nostalgia*

Omg, they seriously asked you to leave?!?? That seems awfully rude. I mean, I know libraries need to be quiet places, but there’s such a thing as humanity!! I think our library is uber tolerant of children because they do playgroups on Thursdays (hence we go XD) and have toy libraries and all sorts of things. *nods*

I ADMIRE YOU BIKING TO THE LIBRARY THOUGH. Young!You was very dedicated and admirable. *nods*

Well, it was worse than just…noise. I don’t remember exactly how it went, but she snuck off once (that child was way too good at getting out of her stroller) and started pulling books off the shelves and throwing them before we could find her again…yeah…and a librarian brought her back and kind of gave my mom a very unamused look. Hehe.

Thankfully she doesn’t do things like that anymore, now that she’s 12! 😉

Ahhhh, that does sound notorious. But c’mon?! I think they could be a little more lenient since she was so little!! My nephew nearly broke a scanner once. *whistles innocently and hurriedly runs away with the kids*

I’m so jealous!! There aren’t any local libraries in our place like those other countries have, so the only library I can ever go to is the one in our school. Unfortunately, it barely has any new interesting releases every year and 90% of the books it has, I’ve already read. :/ I NEED A BETTER LIBRARY *cries*

And yes, I’ve found tons of mistreated books there, which is TERRIFYING. Why would someone ruin a precious child of mine?!? THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN CARE AND LOVE AND ALL THOSE SWEET THINGS. *grabs a book and hugs it*

OMG YES YOU DO NEED A BETTER LIBRARY. *pats your shoulder* There there. I’ll conquer one and send it to you, because I’m so nice, yes?

Mistreated books are sad affairs. I also get annoyed that people put them back on the shelves. Like can’t the librarians see the horrible stains?!??! I guess they don’t have an unlimited budget BUT STILL.

OMG THAT IS SO COOL!! I remember having handmade-decorated library bags when I was a kid…with our names on them. Bags are NEEDFUL for library trips. *nods* (Especially when i’m trying to carry my books AND the zillion books picked by the Franks.😂)

This post is fantabulous, and I ADORE the Franks! So much adorbz oh my word. I love getting a look into your library and your library-conquering! 😀 I laughed so hard and grinned so much and had to read it aloud to my sis. I also totally lost it about you and the Franks and getting scary books. XD BASICALLY I LOVE THIS POST ALDJFLKSDJLKJ;DKFJ

I do not library nearly as often as I should like… I live in the middle of nowhere so there are several small-ish libraries not too far away from me, but the only one that’s WORTH going to is like 40 minutes away and I don’t drive… However, this last year I’ve been getting to the library once a month because my writing meetings were there, SO I CAN GET MY WRITING AND BOOKISH NEEDS ACCOMPLISHED BOTH AT ONCE. But I probably won’t have meetings there anymore so I will have to come up with good excuses to go…

I do have a 1-3 book rule as well… and sadly I often follow it. 🙁 But my to-read-bookcase at home is currently double-stacked so I should prooobably start working on that instead? (Which is another reason I need to come up with good excuses to library because my mom seems to think I have enough books to read…?) But my library has a whole room for YA, plus another section about as big with MG books, and there are just SO many books there and I need to read all of them!!! (And all of the other libraries too, of course. I shall conquer them all!)

AHH THANK YOU. I’M GLAD YOU LIKED IT!! <3 Hehehhhh, those Franks know me too well, tbh. Although when the larger Frank tried to pick out a movie for me...nope. Not impressed. 😂

Agh, i totally hear ya with library troubles. Up until we moved to this town (about 5 years ago) I barely EVEr libraried because it was SUCH a tiny library and....gah. Not even worth it. Writing meetings though!!? THAT IS SO COOL. I've never met a writer IRL. 😂

I've done REALLY well with my 1-2 book rule this year. Like, last month I broke and got 8 out BUT ALL MY RESERVES CAME IN AT ONCE AND IT WAS TOTALLY NOT MY FAULT!! (I think librarians let all the reserves come in at once and then laugh deviously.) I need to read all my unread books at home too, though. *sigh* And my kindle. My kindle is GLARING at me...

My son and I lived at the library up until he was 13 and then he was a teen volunteer, so he started going there without me. But have no fear my sister stepped in and started being my YA “personal shopper”. She was the one who introduced me to YA and forced certain books upon me even through the covers turned me off, like the Chemical Garden books and the Birthright books. She used to go twice a week (stay at home mom that she was) until… dun… dun… dun… she bought a Kindle and started going only once every six weeks (the length of time you can borrow a book). So what happened? I bought a Kindle! Now I go with her most times, but hardly ever borrow anything. However, I do take my favorite books) off the shelves and swap them out for the books that are on the lower shelf displays! *wrings hands in devious excitement* I love the ambiance of librarys. When I am fully retired I might just go to sit and read. They have comfortable chairs next to huge windows. They also have a gift shop and a snack room. You would be booted out on your behind if you were found with snacks in the library here. Ha ha. I am so happy your nibblings are so “frank” about their excitement for the library! 🙂

Ohh that’s AWESOME that your library is nice and comfy though! Ours is a bit awful if you want to relax and read. They have a few bean bags, but…eh. >_> I’m not fond of dubious bean bags and the ONE lounge is always taken. BUT I LIKE TO SIT ON THE FLOOR. I used to sit there for a few hours every week while waiting for my sister’s flute lesson to finish. Now I library with the Franks. AHHH BUT A GIFT SHOP AND SNACK ROOM?!? I THINK THAT’S AWESOME. I would love to see a librarian tell the Franks not to eat. 😂 They would totally not get anywhere. omg, I have never met stubborner kids. 😂

I just got back to new Zealand and there may have been 15 library holds waiting for me. I better read over the holidays, I guess! Also I bought Illuminae in Australia and started reading you better be proud (it’s awesome and violent so far and I have mixed feelings about AIDAN) I library from a school library, a digital library and the city libraries wwhenever I’m in New Zealand so I get alllllllll the books (sort of) I once found a lollipop stick in a library book which was so GROSS. Thanks for the post- you
re clearly fabulous at librarying

Oooh, read fast, Shanti! READ FAST. 😂 I had 8 reserves waiting for me the other day. AGH. I honestly prefer to only have a few books at a time because…PANIC. But it is also fun to see the library express concern that I’ll be able to read them all. When I’m like “Oh this? It’ll take me a week.” HEHHHH.
AHHHH I AM PROUD. I hated AIDAN and then I loved him, so I’ll be interested to know what you think! 😂 Did you get confused at the beginning?! I was majorly confused.

I ADORE the library! Although, sadly I tend to feel superior to all of the other library folk. I generally will put all the books I want on hold online and then I will go in, and while I am grabbing my books, I might (possibly) go up to other people and suggest books for them, and I also help people check out books because clearly everyone needs lots of books, and I must help the elderly people who can’t handle some of the self check out stations at my library. BUT HEY! I am also the conqueror of my library, and am basically the queen, sooo… Haha, only slightly kidding ;). Your niece and nephew are absolutely adorable. 🙂 AWWW. I need minions besides my whining brother.

AWW YOU ARE FRIENDLY AND NICE!!😂 I’m like a library hermit. I go in and get my reserves, play with the Franks, and then leave quietly. 😂😂 (Okay NOT QUIETLY. The franks are still learning what “library voice” means.)

Yes, and I am especially lucky because I have the best library in NSW, it was even voted so in some library competition. And it has two rows of shelves of YA books and then it has other sections of books that I would call YA but are spread out in the fantasy, Si-fi, historical, and a lot of other sections. I can’t remember the last time I actually came across a gross library book, but they do have those shiny covers.

And there is also the section of books for sale for 50c each! And sometimes treasures can be found there, and sometimes the books are still in great condition.

AHHHH I WANT TO MOVE TO YOUR LIBRARY THEN, CLEARLY. My town is teeny tiny. I kind of dream of living in an actual big city where the library is gloriously big and has more than 2 shelves of YA books. :’) DREEEEAMIN’ MATE.

Library sales are my FAVOURITE!! I’ve gotten so many books for just 50cents. SQUEEE. (Better than op-shops. Sheesh. Have you ever op-shopped for books?!? They like to sell them for $4 where I live. ROBBERY. Especially when the book is beaten, bashed and used. *sigh*)

One of our Op shops it like that, but there is a different one at which I have got cool books for 20c each…. like the whole chronicles of Narnia! and in ok condition too and all the same edition 😀 Yes we have the best library and out town isn’t even a city at all.

I used to go to the library every week, and check out a ton of books. I never bought my own books, which was not good. So this year I decided instead of taking advantage of free books, I would go spend every last penny on a bazillion books, and then proceed to roll on the pages and mark them as mine. Only mine. My family does not approve. But do I care? Never.

BUT THAT IS AWESOME THOUGH. Book ownership is truly the best. Libraries are good for when one is poor. 😂 I only just started being able to buy a gazillion books this year too. SO I CONFESS I’VE LIBRARIED LESS LATELY. I prefer owning them and never letting another human touch them. :’) GOod times.

You are like my library-soul-twin, I think. 😂 BUT YES. Being the first person to read a book is a special kind of gloriousness. :’) I don’t often get in line first? But I LOVE snabbling a book off the shelf and realising it’s never been read until me.

I WISH. I have noooo idea if I could do that…I just have to keep typing in the newest releases and seeing if they’re on order or not. BUT GAH THEY KEEP LOSING BOOKS. Or people keep stealing them?!? But there are literally so. many. books. I’ve reserved lately and just ended up having them cancel out after 6months of the book being missing. *cries*

Ha. LOVE THIS! Your niece and nephew may be ALMOST as adorable as mine. I do love that your niece calls every book her favorite though. So optimistic. But narrowing down an actual favorite book is HARD. They are all amazing!

THIS POST IS THE MOST ADORABLE THING EVER. I love your Franks <3 <3 I'd like some of my own.

Sadly I do not often conquer the library. The last time I was there was while I was studying for HSC and it scarred me so much I haven't gone back since. PLUS I figure I should finally read some of the books I bought myself two years ago…oops.

FRANKS ARE THE BEST THING TO OWN. Because when they’re too wild you can just hand them back to parents. So. much. win.

hehe, I can understand the HSC terrifying memories. And zomg, technically I could probably last…at least 3 months (like reading EVERY DAY) with all the books in my house. BUT YET I LIBRARY. What even. I have an addiction. Don’t send help.

I work at a library…so I am there AT LEAST two-three times a week. Bringing my niece and nephew is always fun, especially when we can do crafts! They are adorable. However, they moved so now I don’t have minions to bring with me on days I don’t work. Sigh. But yes, I love the library and all the free books! I find a lot of new titles that way too. 🙂

AHH WHAT A GREAT JOB!! (Okay, well, actually I have no idea if it’s a great job. 😂 But it sounds wonderful, hehe.) Aw, sadness that your minions moved. I basically hope my minions never move because I would be LOST in that library without them.

YAY! CONQUERING! I’m not really the one to conquer a library. as long as their is and endless supply of Jennifer A. Nielsen and Jonathan Auxier (which isn’t true for the latter since their “middle school/children books and its a “high school” library) i’m totally fine with whoever currently has ownership of the library.

and OMG IS THAT SERIOUSLY THE COVER FOR HARRY POTTER!?! it’s very different than the one in America and sooooooooooo much better!

CAIT THIS POST IS EVERYTHING I LOVE. Batman shirts, food, and libraries all rolled into one! (Plus that ADORABLE photography). I always get slightly overwhelmed with then urge to ADOPT ALL THE BOOKS when I enter a library or bookstore, especially when the selection is VAST AND MINE FOR THE TAKING. I mean reading…. BUT SERIOUSLY LOVED THIS POST!

You write a lot of great posts, Cait. But I dare say this may be my favorite EVER. For several reasons! First,
nice work aunting the Franks. I can tell they are people I will want in society. They are also adorable, and they sound like a lot of fun. I wish the Franks could entertain my small humans. We could set them all free in the library (of which my humans have a strong affinity for as well) and we could look at the sad little shelf (yes, at my library, there is only ONE shelf, albeit a kind of large shelf) of YA books. I do not take home library books because of the aforementioned sticky plastic covers (I seriously cannot. CANNOT. And I am not even a germaphobe or anything but like… what IS that!?) BUT I do pet the ones I have read! I also umm pull them out EVER so slightly, as a subtle hint to passersby that these are the books they should be consuming. I don’t know if it works, as I have never seen another person in our library. My mom’s library is slightly better in that there are other people there. And they had some pretty current books- I got her to check out some September books in actual September!

The other thing I approve about this post? ANIMATED BACON. I hate that pig, Cait. I. HATE. HER. Her whole family is RUDE and crude and obnoxious and that god forsaken Peppa thinks she is just the best thing since sliced ham! NO. No. No. No.

Also, RULE BREAKING. I only go to the library if I am carrying a large vat of coffee. I don’t think people like it, but since there aren’t ANY people in the upstairs (this is the kid/YA section- occasionally a few old ladies are in the downstairs part with the adult books and computers) I do what I want. I also feel like I will tell anyone who questions me that I know more about books than they do and start some kind of library fight? That would probably happen. Good thing there are no people.

And I definitely hope the Franks will be a good contribution to society. The smallest Frank even ate a book once…I kinda can’t be mad? She probably gets it off me. I’m pretty sure the Franks would get on famously with your small humans. You should move to Australia, Shannon. < -- Excellent idea. And you can pick up that Aussie The Hunger Games boxset while you're here. NO DOWNSIDES.
I AM SO GLAD YOU SHARE MY HATE OF MISS ANIMATED BACON. I can't believe the fat-shaming that goes on in there. 😳It's a children's show...I mean, what even the heck?!?! Plus Peppa needs to be brought down a few notches. Why can't the children watch Babe? Now THERE was a nice, mannered pig.

Awww, this post was super enjoyable, thank you, Cait! Your niece and nephew are adorable and THE LIBRARY IS GREAT. I love how you take them with you – totally, quality time right there – gotta train them young! 😀

AREN’t THEY JUST THE CUTEST?!? I swear, it’s a bad thing because those little adorable faces can get me to do anything. *sighs* *gives them chocolate* *is probably a bad aunt but at least the favourite*

I can’t start taking my minion to the library, but it will be a little while since it is 6 months before they are born! I love the library so much and most of my friends have never even been inside the public libraries in town. SAD!
I also love reserving new books before they even hit the shelves so I can greedily have them first! Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings

Omg, congrats on your soon-to-be-small-minion, Missie!! That’s so exciting!! And omg, I HEAR YOU THOUGH. I’m the only library goer in my family and amongst all the people I know (I mean, apart from my nephew/niece who are forced…😂 But they don’t seem unhappy about it.)

AHAHAHAHA THIS IS GOLD CAIT, PURE GOLD. but, confession: i haven’t been to my local library, the one I started going to age 2 every week AT LEAST ONCE, because of college, and no time, and all that horrible stuff. BUT HEY WE HAVE A COLLEGE LIBRARY, and it’s pretty alright! i mean, at the age of 9 i think i’d read ALL THE BOOKS in my local library, so i started on the teen and adult and classics while also begging the librarians to order in books not even in their catalogue, it worked, most of the time because a. I AM PERSUASIVE, and b. they knew me and my book eating habits, and it is their job to encourage reading right?!
fun fact: aged 5 i did my first summer reading challenge where you are supposed to read a book a week during the summer holidays (6 books in all) and each week if you did that and came back you would get a small prize, and at the end if you did it all, A GRAND PRIZE AND STICKERS. i went to the library, came home, read six books that day, went back to the library the next day, and demanded all the prizes and the grand prize and the stickers because i was done.
THE WOMAN REFUSED BECAUSE SHE SAID I WAS MEANT TO READ A BOOK A WEEK.

UM excuse me but reading challenges are meant to encourage reading are they not?

DO NOT DISCOURAGE MY POOR FIVE YEAR OLD HEART. (she gave me the medal from last year’s challenge in the end because I glared at her for a while..)

The Franks are so adorable. *hugs them* I live in an apartment basement and the family who owns the house lives above us and their kids are just about the same age as the Franks and I should totally recruit them as my library minions. Also, since I have never heard of Peppa Pig, I guess I’m blissfully ignorant.

I haven’t descended on the library in my new location yet, but I’m definitely planning to come January. I do think I’ll have to give myself a 2-3 book rule though, because I can see myself bringing home such huge stacks of books that I will need to buy a bigger car just to fit them all. #bookwormproblems My biggest problem with libraries is that if I read a book and like it, I want to own it so I can stare at its beautiful cover every day. I’m a book dragon like that. So it’s a lot less weird for me to buy books before I read them instead of reading them and then buying them, if that makes any sense. But yes, I will have to attack the library soon, after I’ve devoured all the books I get for Christmas, and the ones I buy with my Christmas money. 😀 (Also, I’m getting Winter for Christmas, so I’m super excited.)

You ARE blissfully ignorant of the horrors of animated bacon, STAY THAT WAY, LIZ. PROTECT YOURSELF.

The 2-3 books rule is rather handy. *nods* Especially if one is trying to write as well. hehe. I think it’s a form of procrastination for me, nearly?! Like I think “oh I CAN’T writ until I’ve finished this library stack”. 😝 Try getting a dragon to carry them all. *nods* It’s the best carrying method I promise.

OH MY GOSH I LOVE THE LIBRARY SO MUCH! I go every week which is a bit of a problem as my TBR pile is about to fall on top of me *dies* But the libraries in England have such a good selection so I. mean, I can’t possibly say no, right?? Also, this post has made me realise I need minions. Asap.

Everyone else when they arrived at their uni town: YES! FREEDOM! I can finally do everything I’ve ever wanted to do. *finds the clubs*
Me: YES! FREEDOM! I can finally do everything I’ve ever wanted to do. *finds and joins the nearest library*

I am really guilty of not visiting the library often enough. I hope that this will change in 2016. However, my local library has won the ATLA2010 (I think that’s what it’s called) award. So, it is a good library.

Your Frank is so adorable! Both of them. (They have grown a lot too.) I love it when kids love books. You’re definitely the best aunt ever because you take them to the library. 😉

I don’t library as much as I want to, because I’m a slow reader and I recently bought a lot of books. But when I do library, I usually just wander through the shelves until something strikes my fancy. Our YA section isn’t huge, but sufficient I guess. Now the MG though, I always find little obscure treasures there.

Hm. . . I’ve never taken a bag with me for the books. It’s a good idea. Although I kind of like walking around with a huge armload of books. Which is kind of strange. But, hey, everybody knows I’m a bookworm then, right?

Ikr?! How did they get so tall. 😳 The larger Frank continually asks for piggy-backs and I DIE. HE IS JUST TOO BIG and I am too short. And if I say I’m too small to carry him, he just glares at me and says, “No you’re not. You’re a grown up.” Ha.😂

Ooh, obscure treasures are delicious! It’s been YEARS since I went looking for something that wasn’t recommended. I should really do that again…

I like walking around with an armload of books too! BUT. I have to like carry 398539 books from the Franks, AND my own, AND their snacks and puzzles and shoes. Why can’t little kids wear shoes? Why can’t they carry their own snacks? I’M ASKING THE TOUGH QUESTIONS HERE.

Can you tell the Franks for me that they are the ABSOLUTE CUTEST? Thanks. 😀
I would totally love a minion myself, but alas, they are quite short in supply right now in my area. 😛 It’s all cool though, because I’m pretty sure the majority of my arm muscles are from carrying around huge piles of books to and fro.
I’ve been visiting the same library since I was in third grade, so I know pretty much every inch of it – from the little kids’ section to the Teen’s Room/YA shelves to the nonfiction and adult books. I would definitely call myself a conquerer. >:)
Step 10 is literally me! Turning into the YA shelves is like coming home. Whenever I can drag a friend with me to that area, I’ll be petting the different books that left an impact on me and having a mini-fangirling session with myself while they look on.
I hope many more people can conquer their libraries with your awesome post!

I SHALL. They basically get told all the time (by meeeee) and they know it now. It sort of backfires on me when they get their puppy dog eyes and make me do whatever they please. MY SOUL IS MUSH TO THEIR CUTENESS.😂
You DO sound like a spectacular conqueror!! I can only boast 4 years because my family moves all. the. time. hehe I try to drag my sister along and point out all the books she SHOULD read and all the ones I HAVE read and…gah. She tries to clobber me. Doesn’t appreciate the fangirling of a bookworm. *sniffs* I UNDERSTAND THE FEELS, AILA.

When my kids were young, we used to LIVE at the library and come home with ridiculously large piles every week (like, seriously ridiculous – I think we had over 50 books out at one point). Now we don’t go as often – mostly because we own a library full of books. My daughter is in a phase where she ONLY wants to read the thirty-some Warriors books over and over and over and over and. … anyway, I just gave in and bought them all. Of course, they’re always coming out with more, so this is a dangerous pattern (luckily I’ve found quite a few on Book Outlet for crazy cheap!). Um, okay – I really digressed there, didn’t I? I’ll stop rambling now.
Libraries are awesome. The end.

You clearly raised your kids RIGHT THEN. XD Ohhh, I do totally get that phase of rereading-the-same-book-forever-and-ever. My sister went through that when she was about 9 and GAH I WANTED TO THUMP HER WITH A BOOK. She refused to read all my favourites!! hehe. *ahem* Libraries are very awesome though. I only become a very avid library-goer when I was 17 but now…nO GOING BACK.

I am definitely a library conqueror. My reign started a couple of years ago at my local library when I started as a humble volunteer. Clearly, I quickly escalated in the ranks and am now the proud conqueror of the library. Fellow library goers know better than to abuse my realm while I am there.
I am so glad that I am not the only blogger who still goes to their library. I feel as if I am the only one who goes to the library to get the newest books instead of getting ARCs or buying them. I definitely do not have the income to keep up with my reading habits (Bill Gates probably does not even have enough money to buy me all of the books that I want).
But in all honesty, I love my library. I love the atmosphere and the idea that there is somewhere for all of the amazing book lovers to congregate. And my library is so much more than a place to read. It is a place to make friends, create things, and relax. The free books are also a good perk too.

OHHH. So you worked your way up the ladder? From volunteer — TO CONQUEROR. I highly approve. *nods*

I don’t have the money to buy endless new books either!! And, well, I could make more use of Netgalley and things?! But I PREFER physical books, hehe, so library = about half of my reading diet!! And not even ashamed. We library goers must unite and raise our borrowed books to the sky in dances of triumph. HUZZAH.

AHH. THIS POST IS AMAZING. Your niece and nephew are absolutely adorable Cait. OMG. And I love all your tips for conquering the library – I’m definitely going to keep those in mind for the next time I decide to visit the library. Thanks for sharing this and, as always, fabulous post! ♥

EEeeep. THANKS, ZOE. <3 Haven't they gotten so big though?! Zomg, I tried carrying the larger Frank the other day and NEARLY DIED. He's going to outgrow me soon and I'm going to be that tiny aunt shrieking about books in the corner.

I’m afraid to say that I haven’t been to a library since…I finished my HSC. EEP! *hides* I usually buy most of my books, and I have TOO MANY to justify borrowing more which I know will probably not be read on time.

But I admire your library conquerness, oh almighty one. May your rule be long and effective. 😛

Animated Bacon!!!! That made me screech with laughter right where I am sitting because Cait. You. Are. Too. Hilarious.
Your minions are adorable and they have good taste too – Elmer the elephant was like my best friend when I was younger. Aw.
Congratulations on having conquered your library about 87.46% – once it is 100% in your grasp, you can take your dragon army with you because literate dragons would be the best thing ever. Pff who needs library voices?! And why would there be a rule banning all snacks? That is just… inhumane *gasps* My school library is overflowing with gross books handled by clumsy teenage non-bookworms so I FEEL YOUR PAIN. They do have a Maggie Stiefvater shelf though, so there’s that. 😀 Fabulous post Cait!

HEHEH. MY JOB HERE IS DONE THERE. *cackles mischievously* Aw you like Elmer?! XD I can’t stand him, sadly…but this could be because I’ve read the same 3 books 982820 times and i’m just beyond Elmer? (But it’s better than Spot.😳) But my nephew has this routine where he goes to the computers and looks up Elmer EVERY TIME and we come home with at least two. Elmer fandom.😂

yES. Dragon army comes next. We shall fly in through the windows. *nods gloriously* (After we open them, of course, because we are careful evil conquerors.)

This post is EXCELLENT. I don’t have a library subscription (*le gasp* I KNOW) but I’ve been thinking about getting one… I thought the library here wouldn’t have a good selection of English novels (at least, not the ones I want to read), but my friend says they do, so that’s good! Also FILMS.

When I lived near my favorite library in Indiana (6 stories! And a basement!) I was in at least every week, sometimes twice a week. My current library isn’t as big. And they never seem to have the book on the shelf when I want to borrow it. I also don’t have good transportation so I hardly ever go there…

However! They have a hugely extensive ebook catalogue! So I’m constantly borrowing books for my Kindle. And reading them at work. *laughs* Luckily, work lets me read on the clock as long as I do my actual work too. (Answering phones and putting in faxes.) And the library buys 90% of the books I request them to if they don’t already have them. So I love that.

DID YOU JUST SAY SIIIIIIIX STORIES??! *moves to your state directly* Ebook options are THE BEST. I like the audiobooks. Although my library doesn’t have a great selection of them either (sigh) But they have The Scorpio Races so #priorities I suppose.

I loved this post! When my nieces and nephews are old enough we will conquer libraries, too! I work at a library, so I’m there quite a bit. I’ve seen a lot of mistreated books that make their way to to library one way or another, some of them are donations, though, so they never get put on the shelves. I wish everyone would try to keep the books nice, but sometimes accidents happen. 🙁

OH WORKING AT LIBRARY. Dream job. :’) (Actually I would be useless because I would not want to do anything but read. >_>) Oh oh and yes accidents do happen *nods* I’ve dropped a stack of library books (shhh, yes I had too many) and bent a cover once and GAH. I felt so so bad. Dropping something sticky/foodish on them and just returning it normally seems poor form though. D: Blah, but then I guess the shelver didn’t notice either…

I LOVE this post, and the pics are super adorable! My mom and I used to go to the library multiple times a week when I was little. It’s only 10 minutes away from my house. I could technically walk to it if I so desired (the desire has not come). I read mainly ebooks nowadays because my schedule is too hectic to squeeze in random library visits (because I’m always tempted to stay hours). I volunteered to shelve books for service hours one summer. The public library is such a marvelous place!

Lol. This is adorable. I actually don’t use the library that often simply because I have a bunch of books that I haven’t read at home and I usually buy the books I want to read that are top priority. Sometimes I go to get a book I don’t want to buy that I’m curious about or to get some peace and quiet (and focus), but that’s about it.

When I do go though, I typically limit it to one book (two at most) because that’s about as fast as I can read (and even then I get distracted with other books). I do love going to the library though. It is a wonderful place. We actually have a pretty large YA section so it’s glorious. You would love it.

This is pitiful, but I’ve mostly read my own books. I’ve just this month began to branch out to the library again. XD I checked out Allegiant and The Fifth Wave (I know I’m so behind. It’s one of my goals this year to read some of latest, as in the past few years, bestsellers).. XD

see, my problem with library conquering is that i always get too many books that end up being due before i finish them. gah….problems. but my niece is a book lover. i’m going to make her a minion. we will conquer the library using these steps. definitely.
but the shiny plastic covers are TERRIBLE. and they all just seem to have a general stickyness to them. yuck. :/ but i guess its an okay trade-off for mountains of books.

I HEAR YA WITH THAT PROBLEM. I relate. I’ve had to basically tell myself ONE book a week (unless all my reserves come in at once and, let’s face it, they always do.😑 Librarians do that on purpose I’M SURE.)

I work at the public library and I could tell you horror stories of the sticky books that don’t make it to the shelves. My secret weapon is hand sanitiser and tissues. It’s not what the product is meant for, but it works wonders on those gross, shiny covers, but it’s also kind of gross to see the dirt come up from areas that look clean. IGNORANCE IS BLISS. I REPEAT, IGNORANCE IS BLISS!

Thanks for sharing with us your library adventures Cait, and your super cute minions as well! You are training them well my friend, and Frank has the best shirt ever! I love visiting my local library but I’m horrible at sticking to reading library books because of ARCs and other things!

THE FRANKS ARE GETTING SO BIIIIIIG. GAH. And they’ve taken to demanding piggy-backs. Both of them. Simultaneously I am a very small bean and this is not a good request. XD I do have to put myself on a sort of “library limit” and only get 1 book a week though or I faaaail and forget all my ARCs and books I’ve bought. 😛

This whole post cracked me up HAHAHAHA. Unfortunately, the only minion I have who ALWAYS follows me along to library trips would be the boyfriend. And he doesn’t read. WHICH is even better, because he’ll just sit there like a dutiful minion, and helps me carry book. (Which is usually alot. SEEESH I could get muscles from all this.) Me and libraries are best friends. I have actually spent 10 hours in a library before. And starting December, I had to ban myself from the library because I haven’t read my eARCs for Dec. Ooops? Well, my plan to not go to the library till 2016 IS FAILING BECAUSE I AM GOING TO THE LIBRARY ON CHRISTMAS EVE MUAHAHA. hehe. But hey, amaaazing list 🙂

WELL THAT’S HANDY THOUGH. Especially if he carries all your books for you. Mwahhaha. Zomg 10 hours?!? THAT IS INTENSE. We spend about 2 hours there every Thursday. *nods* And I hear ya with library bans. Story of my life. But note how I only had ONE book? hehe. That’s my compromise. Library all the time — but only ONE BOOK A WEEK. So I keep upw tih the ARCs. XD

I love libraries. I’m soo happy that you share this sentiment because they are truly magical places. I even have my own minion, although we’ve both become snobby booklovers who only buy books anymore sigh. Your minion Franks are both very adorable though. But I am still a conqueror at heart, and this post has definitely renewed my love for the wonderful institution! Also pfft you may be a conqueror but do you have your card number memorized? *raises eyebrows in challenge*

They aaaare!! They are magical and marvellous places and I seriously wouldn’t be the bookworm I am today without them. :’) When I am rich and famous though, hehe, I would totally not mind being a snobby booklover who only bought books. #goals BUT LIBRARIES KEEP ME ALIVE FOR NOW.

Omg. NOT COMPLETELY. I have half the number memorised. But I always forget the first 3 digits😂

I’ve been phone-bound and virtually laptopless for the past few days, but DID THAT STOP ME FROM FAWNING OVER THIS POST ON MY PHONE? Noooo, it didn’t! Franks I & II are HOLY FLUFFS OF ADORABLENESS, and your minion buddy system of The Great Library Conquerdom is enviable! If there were a library with books in English (or anything published from 1980 onward) in this sad, sad part of Eastern Europe where I reside, I would employ it. STEP ASIDE, MORTALS. THIS IS THE CAIT-SYSTEM! THIS IS NOT A DRILL!

(I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. And again. And again. But YOU SOUND LIKE MAGGIE STIEFVATER AND YOU FULFILL MY LACK OF STIEFVATERNESS IN THIS SAD, SAD YEAR WHEN NO SOLELY-STIEFVATER TITLES CAME OUT.) I suffer so. But Cait helps!

First of all: you deserve a million condolonces for being laptopless. *pats shoulder* *gives you chocolate* Secondly: N’AWWW I APPRECIATE THE FANGIRLING 1000%. 😂 XD I highly approve of the phrase “The Cait System” too. *nods* That should be an every day household phrase, tbh.

ZERMAGERD. REALLY!??! THAT IS THE BEST COMPLIMENT OF MY LIFE. 😂 😂 Basically Maggie Stiefvater should publish at least 12 books every year. I mean, is that too much to ask? Really?

THIS POST IS THE CUTEST AW. I can’t even remember the last time I was at a library, though, WHICH IS SAD. I’m a BOOK blogger *sobs sobs sobs* I went during my semester with a friend and found out I had a $12 late charge from when I was a kid. (lol oops). Library fail, courtesy of moi.

Haha I love this post! Your minions are adorable (and useful). Also from now on I will refer to Peppa Pig as ‘animated bacon’ because that’s brilliant. I barely ever go to the library, because even the biggest one in my city barely has any English books, let alone YA 🙁

Alright, I laughed SO HARD at this. CUTEST THING EVER!!!!! I bet you are the best aunt. XD I totally rule my library. I always have holds, so when I get there they usually take up half the shelf. Sigh. I do love my library! 😉

So it appears that I missed this post. I don’t know how I managed to do that, since I am the ultimate conqueror of all the libraries in the Near-North-West suburbs of Chicago. Our nearest library just underwent renovation and is now decently attractive (it wasn’t before) and now has a YA ROOM with GLASS DOORS and COMFY COUCHES.

When I was the age of your Franks I would library quite often, thanks to my enthusiastic homeschooling mother. Now I library less because of college. My university doesn’t even have a cool library because it was built in the 1960s by a guy who designed prisons so… the library is super ugly. As is the rest of campus. There’s a university near by, though, (the one my parents went to) that has a library that looks like Hogwarts. I’ve only seen it from the outside but apparently the inside is just as Hogwartsy. There are two universities in Chicago that look like Hogwarts and I go to neither. Clearly my college-choice-process was flawed.

I am in need of some minions, but my cousins are having babies very quickly and plentifully so soon I will be satisfied in that arena I hope. My oldest cousin-child (second cousin? cousin once removed?) is 7 and is satisfactorily obsessed with books and I really wished she lived a teensy bit closer so I could steal her away to be my minion.

You’re Franks are adorable 🙂 I’m about to become an Aunty myself so this offers some good inspiration (especially the “My Aunt is Cooler Than Yours” t-shirt) but instilling a love of books at that age is a great thing to aspire to, you’ve done a good job.

unfortunately the nearest library from my house doent have the books i like (i love discovering new things tho, but no philosophy books pls huh). my school library is a good place to read (so comfortable) but it doesnt have many fiction books so i often bring my own book to read inside the library :/

Oh, Cait. I would so dearly love to be a library-goer. But my library is ABYSMAL! And I always forget that you can loan books from other libraries. Always.

HOWEVER! There’s this sneaky sneaky thing the bookshop I work at does: staff are allowed to borrow books, so long as they’re still in perfect condition when you return them (if not, you have to buy it). This sounds kind of like sacrilege to most people I tell (“But people will then BUY a pre-read book! It’s not new! It’s SECOND HAND! And they go there for NEW books!”), and I understand this. But I am ever so careful with all books, even those I own, and I hate destroying spines, so the books I borrow are pretty much always perfect. Most of the time, I’m all, “LOOK AT THE NEW BOOKS! I WANT THEM!” Then I spend money I shouldn’t be spending. Especially when I have so many unread books at home. But I’m trying to make more use to the borrowing thing. It’s going to be my plan this year. 🙂

Also, your niece and nephew are adorable. I’ve said it before, but they are, and I will continue to say so whenever you post about them. And I love that you take them to the library! That in itself is SO CUTE!

I hear ya with the abysmal library problem. That was me for most of my life!! Until we moved several years ago and I got THIS glorious library. *happy sigh*

That’s a really interesting thing about your bookshop! I’d probably be one of the disappointed people, though, if I knew my book was already read and I was paying full price for it. 😂😂 BUT. I mean, how would a customer know if it’s still in perfect conditions I guess?! 😛 LUCKY YOU!

Awww, they are adorable. AND THEY KNOW IT. And definitely use it to their advantage. 😉

I work in a library, but it’s a college library now. I miss the public library so much, which I was sure I would never say. But I miss all the crazy customers. And having such a large selection of fiction, which is much smaller in the college one as it’s more non-fiction. I don’t go to the public library any more. Mostly because I am tired by the time I finish work and can’t be bothered. Plus… I mostly just buy all the books I want. Plus I own hundreds already that I haven’t read, so I have to kind of work my way through those as well. I do agree that minions come in handy though!

I literally own my library, especially the YA section(we have three big shelves!) I own the computers, the candy that the librarians put out. Sadly I do not have any minions, but I have my trusty backpack which I consider a minion because the poor thing ends up carrying tons of books. I think the librarians must be my minions, because I make them let me take hundreds of books *evil laugh*

Well, you are clearly on the good path to domination. *nods* GOOD ON YOU. I wish my librarians put out candies though, seriously. What is this universe?!?? I AM MISSING OUT. *puts it on to-do list to fix*

I have a strange relationship with libraries and ‘used’ books in general. I hate them and love them at the same time. I love old, used tomes, always wondering who read them before me and what made them choose this particular book, what are they like? I hate the fact that someone had their grubby hands on the book before me.

You cannot go ANYWHERE with small children and not bring snacks. Like seriously, it is the #1 rule of babysitting. 😂 aLWAYS BRING SNACKS TO SHUT THE SCREAMING MOUTHS WITH. < -- life advice
I do get that *nods* Like sometimes I've read some really gross books because people aren't really careful with library books?? But I honestly can't afford to buy all the books I want to read so I HAVE to library. 🙂

You are such a good auntie – I can tell, even though you try to act like you don’t absolutely ADORE those kids:) I know – I’m the proud aunt of five:)

YES, YES, YES! I firmly agree with EVERYTHING in this post!!!

Like bringing bags to the library… and people to help you carry the ones you could not cram into the bag. Usually, I use my dad. Or my little brother. They are both much stronger than me – and also, hate to even mention this, but I feel a little weird walking off with pretty much like THE WHOLE ENTIRE library (okay, maybe not the WHOLE library, but at least twenty books) so I make THEM carry the books so that THEY look like the bookish nerds that they ABSOLUTELY ARE NOT. I am evil.

Libraries, as you mentioned, are great for poor people (ME)!!! Not many other people seem to get this – they just go to the bookstore and like buy whatever they want but I can’t do that so it was nice to know that there was someone else who didn’t have unlimited funds for buying books:)

Personally, I sneak around libraries. It’s more fun that way??? For me, at least. I like being quiet. Silent. Unseen. I mean, how much more badass are you if you conquer the library without anyone even knowing it was you? Like, they never even SAW YOU. Didn’t see you come in, didn’t see you leave… like a ghost. A phantom. The Phantom of the Library. (ohmygoodness, I am SO gonna make that a thing…)

Also I love being in libraries alone. Like after everyone else is gone??? It is handy to know someone who has a key and can get you in whenever you want. Ha. Connections in high places.

I do so adore my little munchkin Franks.😂 (And I’m now an aunty to 6. AHHH. MY SISTERS NEED TO CALM DOWN. I AM NOT GOING TO SURVIVE BIRTHDAYS AT THIS RATE.)

I would loooove to just walk into a bookstore and buy whatever. hahah. 😂 OMG. #goals But yes, until then, devouring the entire library and making off with hundreds of books shall do. *nods* And also sneaking around libraries is quite fun. Or subtly reshelving books when you notice they’re in the wrong place. :’) I think the Phantom of the Library sounds like a very nice title though. MAKE IT A THINK, KAYLA. DEFINITELY DO IT.